Motion-picture apparatus



F. E. WEAVER.

MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS;

APPLICATION FILED NOV-22,1919.

1,367,109. Patented Feb. 1,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

OOOOOOOO I/YVEN'T'OFr' Mwd Z7- l V a V6 F. E. WEAVER.

MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22. 1919.

1,367,109. Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

F. E. WEAVER.

MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1919.

1,367,109. Patented Feb. 1,1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

cu /A %ii i A FRED E. WEAVER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFURNIA, ASSIGNQR. 0EONE-HALF I50 O. WEAVER], 0F 'WATT$, CALIFQRNIA.

MOTION-PICTURE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb, 1., 1921..

Application filed November 22, 1919. aerial No. 339,974.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRED E. WEAVER, a citizenof the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of LosAngeles and State of California, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Motion-Picture Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification...

This invention relates to motion picture apparatus and more particularlyto means for automatically stopping the display of pictures from oneprojecting apparatus and at the same time starting the display ofpictures in another projecting apparatus so that there will bepractically no break or intermission in the continuity of the display ofpicturesas one film runs out and another is to be started immediatelyfollowing the running out of the first film; and the invention has thefurther object of providing an apparatus that not only actsautomatically but is reliable and comparatively inexpensive and can bereadily organized with apparatus of this kind in course of constructionof the same and can also be readily applied to apparatus alreadyconstructed and also in use; and the invention consists of the featuresan embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings anddescribed and claimed herein.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one of two connected motion pictureprojecting apparatuses of any well-known type, a portion of theapparatus being broken away to show details of construction.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional elevational View on line 2-2 of Fig. 1showing one type of dowser controlling switch. a

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2 looking at right angles to theplane of Fig. 2.

,Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of a portion of a film reel showing apart of the circuit control merhanism mounted thereon.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the film operating mechanismpartly broken away to indicate means for operating the don'ser switch.

present invention has been incorporated.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional elevation sub stantially longitudinal of asolenoid and its casing and showing in elevation at dowser connectedthereto and disposed in relation to the cone of the lantern box, thecone being sectioned on line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

F 1g. 8 is a side elevation of a portion of the cone, the latter beingslightly broken away and showing the dowser attachment thereon. 1

Fig. 9 is an elevational section on line 9-9 of F ig. 1 showing theaction of the motor controlling switch device.

In the projection of motion pictures it is the common practice to have aplurality of motion picture machines set in convenient relation so thatas soon as one film is run ofif in one machine the operator may asquickly as possible start the operation of another machine to continuethe display or projection of pictures, especially when the pictures ofthe several films are related to the same subject, and thus eliminateany appreciable intermission in the projection of the series, and it isfor the purpose of providing the automatic cutting out of the picturesfrom one projecting apparatus as the film is run out and automaticallyinitiating the projection of pictures from another apparatus that I havedevised the present invention which obviously may be incorporated inorganization with various types of motion picturemachines and apparatusand may assume various forms in its practical application.

In Fig 6 is shown a pair of projecting means including the cones Cthrough which the beam of light from a lantern box is projected, thesecones CC being respectively mounted upon two sets of machines having,for instance, motors A and B, the'se motors being appropriatelyconnected as 'isyg-indicated in Fig. l to drive the mechanism usuallyprovided in a housing H for winding the film F from one reel R in theupper magazine M to the lower magazine M, and as the winding mechanisminvolves no feature of the present invention a specific descrip tion ofthe same is therefore not necessary other than to say that such windingmechanism involves usually a governor shaft 2, Fig. 1, in which ismounted a governor 3 which, in the present case, is connected to orcarries an actuating device in the form of a disk 4 designed to engagewith a complementary member which may be in the form of a lever 5, whichlever when the governor device assumes a given position as determined bythe speed of the shaft 2, will operate to close a circuit havingcontacts in the switch box 6.

The cone C of each lantern box of a given machine is provided at itsouter end with a device for cutting off the beam of light emanating inthe lantern box and this device preferably is in the form of a disk orclosure D, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, that is adapted to be swung downacross the opening of the cone C to prevent the issue of the beam oflight and thereby protecting the film until t e same is moving at asuflicient rate of speed as not to be burned or ignited and also for thepurpose of instantly cutting off the rojection of pictures when this isrendere desirable for any cause.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the dowser plate or disk D is mounted on thelower end of a lever 10 that is mounted on a pivot rod or stem 11swinging freely in a bearing 12 mounted on a clamp ring 13 encompassingthe outer end of the cone C. The dowser D is preferably counterbalancedor so constructed that it will remain substantially stable either in theclosing position, Figs. 1 and 7, or in the open position as shown at theright in the diagram, Fig. 6, in the latter position permitting the freepassage of beam of light from the lantern.

One of the important features of my present invention is to provide forthe automatic starting of the driving motor of one machine and at thesame time, substantially, actuating a suitable means that will swing onedowser D to a closed position across the cone C of its machine while thecorresponding dowser D of the other machine will be thrown to the openposition, the opening of the dowser occurring substantially concurrentlywith the starting of the motor of its respective machine; it beingimmaterialthat the motor of the other machine in which the dowser hasbeen thrown to closing position continues to operate for a short time solong as the projection of pictures by the apparatus is prevented whenthe other apparatus begins projecting.

To secure the automatic starting of themotor of one machine, as forinstance the motor B, in Fig. 6, and simultaneously close the dowser Dof the machine having the motor A and actuating the dowser D of themachine having the motor B to be started so as to uncover the coneopening, suitable wiring is provided and in this case is as follows:

A main feed wire 15 is provided with a branch l5 connecting with onepole of the motor A and it is provided with a second branch 15connecting with one pole of the motor B. From the opposite pole. of themotor B is led a branch or wire 16 which is extended over to the othermachine, carrying the motor A, and in this wire there is provided ameans or motor switch B from which extends a wire 17 that is connectedat 18 to a feed wire 19 so that when the motor switch B is closed by theautomatic action of means provided for that purpose then a circuit willhave been completed through the motor B and operation of the respectivemachine started.

In a similar way the motor A has a return wire 16 led to the othermachine, that is the machine with the motor B, and this wire 16 isprovided with a main motor switch A from which is extended a connectingwire 17 also joined at the contact 18, for instance into the main feedwire 19. Therefore, it will be seen that when one of the machines isrunning, as for instance the machine with the motor A, then upon apredetermined time if the switch B thereon be thrown to closed position,as in Fig. 6, then a circuit will be completed through the motor B andits respective machine operated. Conversely, if the machine with themotor B is operating then upon a predetermined time the main motorswitch A will be closed and the circuit diverted to the motor A of theother machine and it will be started. The motor switches A and B, arepreferably of a construction to make only instantaneous contacts, as arealso the switches for actuating the dowsers D, to be hereinafterexplained, and therefore, any suitable form of magnetic starting devicemay be used in connection therewith for starting the motors andmaintaining a properly closed circuit during operation.

Manifestly, diverse means may be employed for throwing the motorswitches, and in this case there is mounted on the reels R that areplaced in the upper magazine M, for instance, a rock shaft 20 journaledin suitable bearings 21, the shaft being disposed across an opening 22such as usually found in the side plates of ordinary reels or whichopening may be especially provided if desired, and through this there isnormally projected the inturned end of a lever 23, Figs. 4 and 9, thisinturned end being normally positioned at such a location with respectto a film wound on the reel that at a suitable time in the unwinding ofthe film the lever or finger 23 will be freed from the film and swung orpermitted to move to the dotted line position, Fig. 9, this movementbeing accomplished as by a spring 24.- wound around the rock shaft 20and fixed at one end so as to react to rock the shaft with the finger inthe desired direction.

The finger 23 having been released by the unwinding film F is adapted toproject so that during the rotation of the reel R the finger or portionthereof will engage a tappet lever 25, Figs. 1 and 9, disposed on apivot or rock shaft 26 that is 'ournaled at 27 in the side of themagazine its , and on the 13C outer end of the pivot shaft 26 isattached another lever 28 to the swinging end of which is connected apush rod or trigger 29. Assuming that the trip mechanism just describedis mounted on the machine having the motor A, Fig. 1, this trio rod 29is designed to actuate the switch for controlling the circuit of themotor B on the other machine of the combination' The switch B ispreferably of the same construction as shown in Fig. 2, and is shown asmounted on the side of the upper magazine M in a box 30 in which areprovided the contacts forthe wiring 16 and 17 so that when the push rod29 throws the switch on B a circuit is completed at the contacts of theterminals in the switch box and the motor B thus started. Obviously asimilar organization is arranged on the machine having the motor B sothat at a desired period in the unwinding of a film from the magazine Mthe complementary motor switch A of the other machine will be likewiseoperated.

Having thus above provided for the automatic starting of the motor ofone or" the machines, it is desirable to provide for the simultaneous.closing of one dowser and opening of the other and this is accomplishedin one embodiment of the invention through a device above referred toincluding the governor 3 and the actuating member 5 which is provided tothrow a switch located in the switch. box 6 one for each machine.

Each switch box 6 is provided with a switch arm 35 of any suitableconstruction and appropriately mounted, as for instance on a pivot shaft36, Figs. 2 and 3, the ends of the switch arm 35 being adapted to engagerespective contacts 37 and 38 from which lead respectivelya wire 37which is connected to the feed wire 19 as at 39, the contact 37 beingconnected to a wire 40 having one branch 41 extending into a duplexsolenoid, one coil of which is indicated at 42 and one end'of which isconnected to a common wire 43 which is connected at 44 to the main feedwire 15 so that a circuit is closed through the main feed wire 15,branch 43, coil 42, return 41 to the wire. 40 with its contact 37. Thereis also connected to the wire 40 another branch 45 that extends to theother machine and is attached to one terminal of one coil as 46 alsoforming a part of another duplex solenoid; the coils of on the machinehavingthe motor A the solenoid including coils 42 and 42 and I have alsoprovided a duplex solenoid on the machine with the motor B having coils46 and 46.

These duplex solenoids operate in similar manner and are respectivelyconnected to dowsers D on their machines. A suitable method ofconnection in an embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 7 and 8in which the coils 42 and 42 of a solenoid are mounted in a suitablecasing 52 in the ends of which are arranged adjusting screws 53 whichmay be provided with bumpers 54 on their inner ends that extend into thesleeve of the solenoid and in which there operates a core 55 one end ofwhich is provided with a rod 56 passing throu h an end of the easing andthrough one of the adjusting screws 53, the outer end of the rod 56being provided with a cross pin 57 on which is mounted a' pivoting block58 sliding in a bifurcated or slotted arm 59 that is attached to. aconvenient portion of the pivot or rock shaft 11 of the respectivedowser D.

Therefore, upon the closure of the switch 35 of a. respective solenoidwith the dual coils the excited coil will cause a longitudinal movementof the core 55. As for instance it the coil 42 is energized then thecore 55, Fig. 7, is thrown to the position shown with the result thatthe dowser is set across the end of the cone C to cut off the beam, and,conversely, when the control switch 35 on the other machine is thrown soas to energize the coil 42 the core 55 is shifted reversely or to theopposite end of the coil in Fig. 7 and the dowser D is swung to aposition indicated at the right of Fig. 6.

The dowser controlling switches 35 are respectively operated on thedifferent machines when the coupling or actuating member 5 thereof isshifted by the action of the governing device 3, this transmittingmember 5-being designed to engage with a push rod 5', Figs. 2 and 3,extending into the casing. 6 and normally resting against a contiguousportion of the switch arm 35, the latter being shown as having asupporting shoulder 35 on which the end of the rod 5' normally restswhen the switch arm 35 is thrown to the upright position under the action of a return spring 35 surrounding the pivot pin or stud 36.

. As the push rod 5 is thrust against the adjacent end of the lever 35the latter is tilted to the dotted line position, Fig. 2, and

Current is supplied to the the end of the rod 5 slips off of its support35 and permits the spring 35 to return the switch arm 35 to a circuitbreaking position shown in full lines. When the switch arm 35 is thrownto the dotted line position the circuit is .closed through the contacts37 and 38. This momentary completion of a circuit by the given switch 35is suflicient to excite respective coils of the duplex solenoids so thatthe positions of the dowsers D are simultaneously reversed.

The operation ofmy invention as a whole is as follows:

Assuming the projector operated by the motor A. to be projecting apicture; when the picture film reaches 1ts end, the switch B is closedby the disengagement of \the arm 23 from. said film, through the mediumof the arm 25, shaft 26, arm 28 and push rod 29 of said projector,whereupon the motor B of the other projector is operated, the currentpassing through main 15, lead 15", motor B, lead 16", switch B, lead 17"and main 19. When the shaft 2 of said other projector, which is drivenby the motor B, reaches a predetermined speed, the switch 35 of saidprojector is closed by the governor 3 thereof, whereupon the coils 42and 46 are energized and the dowsers D of the projectors driven bymotors A and B are respectively closed and opened, the current passingthrou h main 15, lead 43, coil 42, lead 50, switc 35, lead 37 and main19, and through main 15, lead 15, lead 47, coil 46*, lead 51, switch 35,lead 37 and main 19, as shown in heavy lines in Fig. 6.

When. the film of the projector operated by the motor B reaches its end,the switch A is closed by the disengagement of the arm 23 from saidfilm, through the medium of the arm 25, shaft 26, arm 28 and push rod 29of said projector, whereupon the motor A of the first projector isoperated, the current passing through main 15, lead 43, lead 15, motorA, lead '16, switch A', lead 17" and main 19. When the shaft 2 of saidfirst projector, which is driven by the motor A, reaches a predeterminedspeed, the switch 35 of said projector isclosed by the governor 3thereof, whereupon the coils 42 and 46 are energized and the dowsers Dof the projectors driven by motors A and B are respectively opened andclosed, the current passing through main 15, lead 43, coil 42, lead 41,lead 40, switch 35 of said projector, lead 37 and main 19, and throughmain 15, lead 15", lead 47, coil 46, lead 45, lead 40, switch 35, lead37 and main 19 as shown in light lines in Fig. 6.

Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of myinvention as claimed.

I claim:

1. Motion picture apparatus having, in combination, a plurality ofmotion. picture machines with a motor for each, a. dowser for eachmachine, and means for automatically closing the dowser of eithermachine and opening the dowser of the other and for starting the motorof the machine on which the dowser is opened.

2. Motion picture apparatus having, in combination, a plurality ofmotion picture machines with a motor for each, a dowser for eachmachine, and electromagnetic means for automatically closing the dowserof either machine and opening the dowser of the other and for startingthe motor of the machine on which the dowser is opened.

3. Motion picture apparatus having, in combination, a plurality ofmotion picture machines each with a dowsing device to control-thepassage of light to films in the machines, motors for the respectivemachines, and film controlled means for reversing the positions of thesaid devices to control projection of pictures.

4. Motion picture apparatus having, in combination, a plurality ofmotion picture machines with a motor for each, a dowser for eachmachine, and film controlled means for automatically closing the dowserof either machine and opening the dowser of the other and for startingthe motor of the machine on which the dowser is opened.

5. A motion picture apparatus having, in

combination, a plurality of projection machines, dowsers for eachmachine, a motor for operating each machine, a film controlled means oneach machine for starting the motor of the other machine, and speedcontrolled means on each machine for simultaneously actuating thedowsers to close one as the other opens.

6. A motion picture apparatus having, in combination, a plurality ofprojection machines, dowsers for each machine, a suitable motive powerfor actuating the machines, film controlled means on each machine foroperatively connecting the other machine with its motive power, andspeed controlled means on each machine to simultaneously actuate thedowsers, to close one as the other opens.

7. A motion picture apparatus having, in combination, a plurality ofprojecting machines, a dowser pivotally mounted on each machine tocontrol the projection of light to the films, a motor for operating eachmachine, electro-magnetic means for actuating said dowsers toalternately open and close the light apertures, a speed controlledswitch on each machine for closing circuits to simultaneously actuatethe dowser actuating means, and film controlled switches on each machinefor closing circuits to operate the motor on the opposite machine.

8. A motion picture apparatus having, in combination, a plurality ofprojecting machines, dowsers to control the, light on each machine, asuitable motive power for actuating the machines independently of eachother, film controlled means on each machine for independently startingthe motive power of the other machine, and speed controlled means oneach machine for simultaneously actuating the dowsers to open the one onthe machine just starting and closing the other.

9. A motion picture apparatus having, in combination, a plurality ofprojecting machines, dowsers over the light apertures on each machine, asuitable motive power for actuating the machines independently of eachother, film controlled means on each machine for independentlyconnecting the machines with their motive power, and speed controlledmeans on each machine for simul taneously actuating the dowsers to coverone light aperture and uncover the other, said last mentioned meansadapted to be actuated by the initial starting of its machine when ithas acquired a predetermined speed.

10. A motion picture apparatus having, in combination, a plurality ofprojecting machines, dowsers for the light apertures in each machine,electro-magnets for actuating said dowsers to alternately cover anduncover the light apertures, motors to operate each machineindependently of the other, film controlled means on each machine forindependently starting the motor of the other machine, and speedcontrolled means on each machine for simultaneously actuating the dowseractuating means, said speed controlled means each being adapted to beactuated by the initial starting of the machine on which it is mountedwhen it has attained a predetermined speed, to uncover the lightaperture on such machine and cover the light aperture on the other.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

F. E. WEAVER.

